Car coupler



Sept. 2 1924.

Fig.1.

H. E. VAN DORN CAR COUPLER Filed Dec. 4, 1.915

WITNE55E5 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS H. E. VAN DORN Sept. 2 l 924' GAR COUPLER m m mm 3 mm N a. om Q mm m w w W 3 QM a m w an m Q 6 mm mm vmm Filed Dec.

WITNE5SE5 mkw HIS ATTORNEYS H. E. VAN DOHN Sept.- 2 1924.

CAR COUPLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

Y BY

WITNESSIES Q 1' a J 0; 00%.

HIS ATTQRNEYfi on the opposed coupler head.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,507,037 PATENT OFFICE;

HERBERT van roan, OFCHICAGG, ILLINOIIs CAR COUPLER.

Application filed December 4, 1915. Serial No. 64,946.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. VAN Donn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Car Couplers, of which the following is a'specification.

This invention relates to car couplers, and

has for its object to provide a new and improved automatic car coupler which also coupled but in position ready for coupling;

Figure at is a sectional view taken on line H of Fig. 8;

Figures is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the parts in their coupled position;

Figure 6 is a view showing one of the locking parts r Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of F ig. 3; I

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 8 8 of Fig. 6;

- Figure 9 is a. front view cf'one of the coupler heads.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures. V

In carrying out my invention, I provide the coupler heads 1 and 2 provided with the coupling links or parts 4;, said coupling parts being rigid with the coupling heads and preferably integral therewith. The coupling link or part on one coupler head is adapted to project into the interior of the opposed coupler head. 'VVithin each coupler head is a locking part5 provided with a receiving opening 6 for the coupling part In the particular construction shown'the locking part 5 is an U-shaped piece of metal .(see Fig. 5) and is pivotally connected to the coupler head by means of the pin 7 the pin passing through the locking part near its open end.

This end is preferably left op n to facilita e assembling the parts as hereinafter described. Associated with each locking part is a spring 8. This spring surrounds a controlling part 9. The controlling part 9 is pivoted at 10 with a pivoted piece l1,'which is also pivoted on the pin 7. 'The pivoted 2 piece 11 is preferably provided with a retracting spring 12, which has one end engaging the coupler head, the other end engaging the pivoted piece (see Fig. 3). This spring surrounds the pin 7, and I prefer to provide a tube 13 connecte.d"with the branches of the pivoted piece 11 (see F igtt) the pin 7 passing through this tube. This makes it easy to assemble and remove the parts. The pivoted piece 11 is provided with engaging parts 14, which engage lugs 15 on the locking part 5 at the front side thereof. A spring engaging part 16 is loosely mounted on the controlling part 9, said spring engaging part engaging the lugs 15. These lugs have rounded faces so as to facilitate the movement of the locking part. The spring is provided at its other end witha spring engaging part 17,".which is also slidable along the controlling part 9, said spring engaging part 17 engaging a stop 18 on the coupler head. The controlling part 9 is provided with an elongated slot 19, through which passes a pin 20, to which is connected the controlling lever or handle 21. The controlling part 9 is provided at each side ofthe pin 20 with the lugs 22. Surrounding the pin 20 is an actuating piece. 23'c0nnected with the pin so as to rotate therewith, as by making the pin noncircular at the connecting points, and having the engaging projections 24 adapted to engage the lugs 22. The handle or lever2l, it will be noted, is located outside of the coupler head and at the top thereof, and normally stands in the central position, as shown in Fig. 1. The locking piece 5 is provided with a hold ing pawl 25, which is pivotally mounted on.

Saidpawl is provided with a y Y the pin 26. v retracting spring 27, one end of which engages the pawl, the other end engaging the coupler head. The pawl is preferably bifurcated the spring being located between the bifurcated ends and surrounding atube 28, the pin 26 passing through this tube;

The pawl 25 is provided near one end thereof with the stop 29 which is engaged by the locking part 5-when the locking part is in its unlocked position and which holdssaid locking part this unlocked position the. coupling part 4: passes.

against the ressure of the spring 8. The pawl is a so provided with $116 projecting end 50, which engages the locking part 5 when in its unlocked position thereby preventing the pawl froin'being moved out too far into the interior of the coupler head by its spring 27. The pawl and locking part. therefore, mutually act to limit the movement of each other. The pawl is also provided with an engaging face 30, adapted to be engaged by the coupling part as it enters the coupler head, so that the pawl may be moved thereby to release the locking part 5 and permit it to move to its coupling posi tion. I prefer to also arrange the parts so that the engaging @face of the pawl is engaged by the coupling part as it is moved out of the coupler head so as to permit the free return of the locking part 5 to its coupling position. The forward movement of the locking part is limited by the stop v31 on the coupler head. shown, the lug 31 is at the bottom of the coupler head. There is a similar lug opposed to the lug 31 located just above it, the coupling part 4t passing between these two lugs when it is moved to its coupling position. The locking part engages these lugs and they project inwardly, preferal'ily substantially flush with the top and bottom inner faces of the opening 6 in the locking part, or slightly above and below the top and bottom of said inner faces so that the coupling part will not strike the top and bottom walls of the locking part, that the portion of the locking part opposite said lugs. By this construction the coupling part will slide freely into the opening of the locking part. The coupler head is provided back of the pawl 25 with a projection against which the pawl strikes when it is moved to its outward limit. thus providing a solid foundation against which it rests when in this position. This is particularly desirable when the pawl is moved against the stop by the coupling part striking in thus helping to move the coupling part laterally to properly center the couplers. Each coupler head is. provided with a stop 51, which stops the locking part 5 when it is moved to its unlocked position. The coupling part t is provided with beveled face 33 and a second finished beveled face 33?, adapted to engage a finished beveled face 34 on the coupler head. The coupling part is also beveled at the top and bottom, as shown at 35 (Figure 4:) and the coupler head has beveled surfaces 36 at the top and bottom of the openingyinto which (See Fig. 7). These variousbeveled faces insure the cen tering ofv the coupling part. The coupling part4; also. has a finished beveled pulling face 37 ,'which engages a finished beveled pulling face 381m the coupler head. The

In I the construction.

beveled faces 33 and 37 on the coupling part and 84 and 38 on the coupler head are all substantially parallel. The meeting faces of the coupler heads are also finished surfaces. Each coupling part is provided on its upper and lower faces near the faces 39 with the finished faces 39 substantially at right angles to the faces 39 (see Fig. i). These finished faces of the coupling part engage the inner finished surfaces 39 (see Fig. 7.) at the .top and bottom of the receiving opening in the opposed coupler head. The parts are arranged so that when they come together a tight joint is made, there being substantially no relative movement between the two wcoupler heads after they are once properly coupled together.

The ends of the air connections project through the wall 40 of the coupler head, that is, the wall containing the beveled face 38. These air connections are provided at their ends with the elastic washers or gaskets 41, the gaskets on the opposite coupler heads being brought together when the cou lin is made and com ressed so as to insure a tight coupling. The ends of these air connections are so located with relation to the coupling parts that they cannot be struck by these coupling parts as they are moving to and from their coupling posiions. The faces 39 and 39* cause alignment of the air pipes vertically and also align the coupling parts so that they come in proper position with relation to the looking parts 5. The faces 34 on the coupler head and 36% on the coupling part align the coupler heads laterally to bring the air pipes in the proper position with relation to each other, and they also cause the coupling parts,

to be brought in proper relation vertically to the locking parts 5. These respective faces therefore bring the gaskets 41 of the air connections in proper alignment and relation to each other before they are brought into intimate contact, so that when these gaskets are brought into contact it is not necessary to move them laterally with relation to each other while they are in contact. Such movement requires considerable force and is in this construction entirely avoided, and consequently this strain is removed from the springs 8, and it is not necessary to have these springs so powerful as would otherwise be the case. TlIGELUtO'IHEL-UC moving of the lockingv parts 5 along the coupling parts 4 in response to the springs 8, also keeps and insures a tight air pipe connection between the air pipes on the opposed coupler heads,

for if there is any wear or any 'otherfactor which tends to loosen these connections,v this automatic movement of the locking parts 5 takes up the looseness and insures a tight air joint. It will be noted that when the parts are in their coupling position the inner face 44. of they locking part 5 engages the.

face 45 of the associated coupling part 4,

these faces are arranged so that the locking part as it. moves farther along the coupling part forces the coupling part over sons to more tightly force the pulling face 37 thereof against the pulling face 38 of the coupler head, thereby insuring a tight connection between the coupler head. This result may be secured by forming the faces 44 and 45 so that they are non-parallel. If, for example, the face 45 is a curved face, then this result may be secured by forming this curve, not about the pin 7 as a center, but about a point a short distance ahead of this pin,

that is, a point between the pin 7 and the.

coupling part 4. It will thus be seen that by this construction the face 45 is on a different curve from the path of the face 44 as it moves about the pin 7 as a pivot. This construction keeps the engaging faces of the coupler heads in close contact with each other, thereby preventing relative movement while the "parts are in their coupling position, thus preventing wearing of the parts. In order to facilitate the insertion of the locking part 5 in the coupler head in assembling the parts, I prefer to remove a portion of the side wall of the coupler head for this purpose. In the form illustrated in the drawing, the'locking part may be inserted without removing a portion of the side wall. and by simply providing the openings 46 in the side wall (see Fig. 2). In this construction the locking part 5, as shown in Fig. 5, is u shaped, and when the pin 7 is .not in position, is open 'at' the end.' By arranging the lugs 31 at the mouth of the receiving opening of the co'uplerso that they end at '47, thereby leaving a free open space 48, the locking part may be inserted in this receiving opening, the'free ends, that is, the

open ends, being inserted first. It is pushed far enough'in so' that the free ends'pa'ss out through the openings 46. lVhen'the locking part has been moved far enough in so that it can be moved back of the lugs 3l, it is thenmoved behind saidlugs, the free ends being drawn inside until the holes therein are in alignment with the holes for the pin *Tflwhereupon said pin may be placed in po- 'sition. I prefer to provide each coupling part 5"with an opening 49, so that either coupler head may be used with any' of the ordinary coupler heads by simply inserting the coupling pin through this opening 49.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying my invention, but it is of course evident that the partsmay be varied in many particularswithoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, and Itherefore do not limit myself to the particular construction shown.

The useand'operation of my invention are as follows:

When it is desired to couple two cars together, the coupler heads of said cars are brought into proximity to each other. Figure 3 shows these coupler heads as they approach each other while being moved to their coupling position. The locking parts 5 may be in their unlocked position or in their coupling position, as the devices may other coupler head, said coupling parts being properly centered and directed by the beveled faces on the coupler heads, When the locking part 5 is in its unlocked position, as shown in the left hand coupler head in Fig. 3, the coupling part 4 on the other coupler head as it moves into its receiving openingstrikes the engaging face 30 of the hold ing pawl 25 and moves'said pawlaway from the locking part so as to. disengage the stop 29 therefrom, whereupon the spring 8 moves the locking part5 to its coupling position, the locking part'st-riking the lugs 31, which limit its forward movement. As each coupling part 4 moves into the opposed coupler head, it passes between the lugs 31, which lugs prevent it from striking the top and bottom inner walls of the locking part and the end of the coupling part 4 then passes intothe opening 6 in the locking part 5.

The beveled face 33 striking the rounded corner of the face 44"of the front end of the locking part 5 moving said locking part back until the face 33* of thecoupling part strikes the face 34 on the coupler head. The engagement of these faces 33 and 34 then moves the coupling part 4 laterally, thereby moving the face'33 away from the wall 44 of the front end of the locking part 5 and preventing the locking part 5 from being moved back a suflicient amount to be engaged by the stop 29.0n the pawl 25. 7, It will thus be seen that as the coupling partis moved into the coupler head this engagement moves the locking part 5 back out'of engagement with the lugs 31'but not far enough back to move it to its unlocked position, and hence when the completecou'pling is made, the

locking part is in a position where it is forced forward bythe spring Sand hence it will gradually move up in casethere is any 'wear or reductionof the parts by rust or the like so as to insure an absolute joint between the two coupler heads at alltimesf The engagement of the faces 33 and 34 causes the pulling face '37 to slide along the pulling face 38. The beveled face 33 facilitates the entrance of the couplingpart 4 into the opening in the locking part. After the completion of this forward and lateral air-tight connection. Since the innerface pler, one of 44 of the locking part 5 and the face of the coupling part, which are in engagement when the parts are moved to their coupled position, are not.parallel, it will be seen that the working of thelocking pa rt5 along the coupling part due to the pressure of the spring 8 crowds the lockingpart 4 over so as to at all times keep the pullingfaces tight together, thus insuring the two coupler heads being firmly locked together. vVhen there is nothing to interfere the finished faces 39 of the coupler heads will be in intimate contact. This construction, however, whereby the face 44 of the locking part engages the non-parallel face 45 on the coupler head insures the coupler heads being tightly locked together even though there should be some obstruction between the faces 39 and the opposed coupler heads, such as ice; and if this obstruction is gradually removed or crushed, the coupler heads will gradually be moved together, the face 44 of the locking part5 moving along the face 45 of the eoupler head, thus insuring a tight connection between the coupler heads during all the period, this movement only being stopped when the faces 39 of the coupler heads are in firm engagement so as to prevent any further movement of the coupler head s toward each other. It will thus be seen that by this construction the two coupler heads are firmly connected together .even though there should be some ice or other obstruction between the faces 39, and thattheremay be a considerable relative movement of the two coupler heads towards each other without interfering with the tight and firm locking of the coupler heads together, the parts automatically acting to insure this firm connection through a considerable range;

When it is desired to uncouple the couthe handles 21 is moved to one side or the other. wThis movement of the handle moves the pin 20 and causes the projections 24 on the actuating piece 23 to engage one of the lugs 22 on the controll ng part 9, the lug 22 on one side being engaged when the handle is moved in one direction, and the lug22 on theother side being engaged when the handle is moved in the opposite direction, eitherengagement causing the controlling part 9 to be moved rearwardly, compressing the spring 8 and swinging the free end of the locking part 5 and the other parts associated therewith rearwardly to the unlocked position. When the locking part 5 is; moved a pre-determined distance rearwardly, the front edge'thereof passes the stop a 29 on the holding pawl 25 and the spring 27 associated with the hold ing pawl moves the pawl forwardly so as to bring the'stop 29 in front of the lockingpart. The handle 21 is now released and the spring 8 moves the parts forwardly until the locking partengages the stop 29. The locking part is now stopped but the con-- trolling part9 maystill move forward. The engaging part 16, however, is also stopped, because of the fact that it engages the locking part 5 and the further movement of the controlling part 9 independent of the locking part being produced by the spring 12...

The locking part is then in the position shown in dotted lines in the left hand con pler head in Fig. 5, and the coupling part 4 is free therefrom. The-handle 21 on the other coupler head is moved in a similar.

manner so as to move the lockingpart'of said coupler head toits unlocked position. The coupler heads may then ,be separated and are then ready to be again automatically coupled as hereinbefore set out. When the locking part 5 is moved to its uncoupled position by the handle 21. its movement is limited by engaging the stop 51 so as to. prevent it from moving past the pawl 25. The end of the pawl therefore willengagesaid locking part, thereby preventing the pawl from moving out into the 7 interior of the coupler. I claim: I

1. A car coupler comprising a hollow.

coupler head, a coupling part connected therewith. a pivoted locking part contained withinisaid hollow coupler head, said lock ing part pivoted near one end, the other end being free, said locking part providedjwith a receiving openingiuto which. the coupling part of the adj acent coupler head is received when the parts are in their coupled position. means for moving said lockingpa'rt to its unlocked position. and a holding device within the hollow coupler head for holding said locking partin its unlocked position. 7

2. A car coupler comprising a hollow coupler head, a coupling part connectedtherewith, a pivoted locking part contained with- -in said hollow coupler head and extending on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the coupler head; saidv locking part provided-with a receiving opening adapted to receive the coupling part of the adjacent coupler head, means for moving said lock-V ing part to its unlocked position, a holding device within thehollow;coupler head for holding said locking part in. itsunlocked position. a portion of said holding device being in the-path of the coupling part of the adjacent coupler so as to be struck thereby as said coupling part enters the vcoupler head and movedto release said; locking part;

retracting spring located within the hollow. coupler head and connected with the locking part and with a fixed part so as to be compressed when the locking part is moved with relation to said controlling part, a holding part adapted to. hold said locking part in its unlocked position, a handle on the exterior of said hollow coupler, a connect on between said handle and said controlhng part, whereby the controlling part may be moved to move the locking part to its unlocked position, and a holding part for holding said locking part in said unlocked position after said handle isreleased.

4., A car coupler comprising a hollow coupler head, a coupling part connected therewith, a locking part pivotally connected within said hollow coupler head, said lock- 1 ing part having an opening into which the coupling part of the adjacent coupler is received, a controlling part within the hollow coupler head and connected with said locking part so as to move the locking part when the controlling part'is moved in one direc tion and move independent of said locking part when moved in the other direction, a retracting spring located within the hollow coupler head and connected with the looking. part and with a fixed part so as to be compressed when the locking part is moved with relation to said controlling part, a holding part adapted to hold said locking part in its unlocked position, a handle on the exterior of said hollow coupler, a connection between said handle and said controlling part, whereby the controlling part may be moved to move the locking part to its unlocked position, and a holding part for holding said locking part in said unlockedposition after saidhandle is released, said holding part provided with a portion in'the path of said'couph'ng part, said coupling part engaging said portion as it moves ceived, a controlling part within the hollow coupler head and connected with said locking part so as to move the locking part when the controlling part is moved in one direc-I tion and move independent of said locking part when moved in the other direction, a retracting spring located within the. liollowfl coupler head' and connected with the locking part and with a fixed part so as to be compressed when the locking part is moved with relation to said controlling part, a handle on theexterior of said coupler head, a pin extending into theinterior of the coupler head and connected with said handle, a connection between said pin and said controlling part, whereby a movement of the handle in so as to move the locking part to its unlocked position, and a holding part for holding said locking part in said unlocked 'po-" sition after said handle is released.

either direction moves .the controlling part '6. A car coupler comprising a hollow cou I pler head, a coupling part connected therewith, a receiving opening in said coupler head for the coupling part of the adjacent coupler, a pivoted locking part located in the hollow of said coupler head, said locking part provided with an opening for receiving the coupling part of the adjacent coupler, and means'in front of said locking part for preventingthe coup-ling part-of the adj acem coupler from striking the top and bottom portions of said locking parts as said cou-Q pling part is moving to its coupling position.

7. A car coupler comprising a hollow couplerhead, a coupling part connected therewith, a receiving opening in said coupler head for the coupling part of the adjacent coupler,.a pivoted-locking part located in the hollow of said coupler head, said looking part provided with top and bottom portions and having an opening for receiving the coupling part of the adjacent coupler, projecting lugs at the top and bottom of said receiving opening which project in front of said locking part and form guide surfaces for the coupling part of the adjacent c'ou-' pler head so as to prevent said coupling part from striking the top and bottom portions of said locking part when. said cou pling part is moving into its coupled position.

8. A car coupler comprising a hollow coupler head, a locking part provided with a fixed turning point at one end, an open-' ing within said locking part sufliciently large to receive the coupling part of the ad 7 jacent coupler, whereby the said locking part loops over the coupling partzof the adjacent coupler.

9. A car coupler comprising a hollow coupler head, acoupling partconnected therewith, a laterally extending lockin :part within said coupler head, one end 0% locking part having a pivotal connection said with said coupler head, the other end being neesara locking part provided with an opening at one side of said pivot and into which the coupling part of the adjacent coupler head is'received, said locking part looping over the coupling part when the parts'are in their coupled position.

10. A; car coupler Comprising a hollow coupler head, a coupling part connected ing part'and holding said locking part in its unlocked position, a portion of said holding device being in the path of the coupling partojf the adjacent coupler so as to be struck thereby both as the coupling part enters the coupler head and is withdrawn therefrom and movedaway from said looking part.

" "11. A car coupler comprising two hollow coupler heads, acoupling part connected with each 'couplerhe'a'd, the coupling part of one coupler head adapted to project into the hollow of the other} coupler head, Jullin'g faces "on the coupling" parts and coupler heads, and laterally extending movable locking" parts within the coupler heads which loop over the ends of the coupling parts and move themso asto force the pulling faces thereon 'in'tight contact with the pulling faces on the coupler heads.

12. Af'car coupler comprising two hollow coupler heads a coupling part connected with each coupler head," the coupling part of one coupler head adapted to project into the hollow of the other coupler head, pulling faces on the] coupling parts and coupler head's, movable yoke-shaped locking parts within the coupler heads into which the ends of the coupling parts project when in their coupler position and which engage thecoupling parts and mov them so as to force the pulling faces thereon in tight contact withthe pulling faces on the coupler heads, andrneans for automatically moving said locking parts so as to crowd the pulling faces tightly together in the event the coupleij heads are inoved toward "each other while in their coupled position 13, car coupler compn ng, two hollow coupler heads, a jcouplnig" part connected with each coupler head, said coupling'part project ng into the coupler heads when in th r; coupled positions, a movable locking P .7 a c each ldclr'mg part provideclwitli a rece ving contained within each coupler head,

of the adjacent coupler head, pulling faces on'each of said coupling parts, pulling faces on each coupler head, the pulling faceof one coupler head being engaged bythe pulling v face on the coupling part ofthe oppose coupler head, each coupling part having a face engaged by one face of the receiving opening'on the'associated locking part, the" two engaging faces being nonparallel so that therelativ'e movement betweenthem" crowds the coupling parts laterally tocrowd the pulling fac'es'there'on firmlyagainst thepulling faces on the coupler heads. i

'14. A car coupler comprising two hollow coupler"l1eads,a coupling part" connected- WltliBZtCliCOllPlGl head, thecouphng partoton'e couplerhead pro ectlng into the holis received, stops on thecoupler heads for limitlng the forward movement of the looking parts, the coupling'parts'when movin into their coupling posit-ion engaging sai't" locking parts and moving them awayifrom said stops, opposed enga'glng' faces en the coupling parts and locking parts whlch'are brought'into engagement when the coupling parts'have' 'mov'ed"to their coupling posi-'" tion, the relative movement of'saide'ngag ing faces crowding the pulling faces of said pulling coupling parts tightly against the races of said coupler heads.

'15. A car coupler comprising a hollow coupler head,- a coupling part connected there'w'it-lufa looped locking part which lq ps over the outer end of thecoupling part of the adjacent coupler headwh'entheparts are in thei'r coupled position." v

'16; A car coupler comprlsing two hollow coupler heads, a coupling part connected with each head, the coupling'part of one coupler head projecting 'iiito "the hollow or;

the other coupler'head, a looped locking part" within each coupler head, thelocking part of one coupler headlooping ever the outer end of the coupling part or the adjacent coupler head when the parts are in their coupled position, said looped lockingf partsf pivotally connected with their associated coupler heads, co-cperating pulling 'faces on the coupling parts and coupler heads, said pulling faces beingfpressed together; movingthe parts fabout their pivotal connections. I

, 17."A car coupler eornprisingtwo hollow 1 coupler heads, a coupling part connected 7 with each head, the coupling part of one coupler head projecting into the hollow of the other coupler head, a looped locking part within each coupler head, the locking part ofone coupler head looping over the outer end of the coupling part of the adjacent coupler head when the parts are in their coupled position, said looped locking parts pivotally connected with their associated coupler heads, co-operating pulling faces on the coupling parts and coupler heads, said pulling faces being pressed together by moving the locking parts about their pivotal connections, and means for automatically moving said locking parts about their pivotal connections to take up wear between said co-operating pulling faces.

18. A car coupler comprising a hollow coupler head, a coupling part connected therewith, a looped locking part which loops over the outer end of the coupling part of the adjacent coupler, said looped locking part pivotally connected with the coupler head near one side thereof, and means for applying pressure to said looped coupling part intermediate its ends so as to move it about its pivotal connection to crowd it along the coupling part of the adjacent coupler.

19. A car coupler comprising two coupler heads, a coupling part connected with each coupler head, said coupling part projecting into the coupler heads when in their coupled position, opposed air connections near the middle of the two coupler heads, elastic devices at the ends of said air connections which engage when the coupling is com pleted to form air tight connections, cooperating aligning faces on the interior of the coupler heads and the exterior of the coupling part, for aligning the air connec tion before said elastic devices are brought into intimate contact, said aligning devices remaining in contact at the end of the coupling movement, and acting after the coupling is made to hold the coupler heads against relative lateral movement.

20. A car coupler comprising two coupler heads, a coupling part connected with each coupler head, said coupling parts projecting into the coupler heads when in their coupled position, opposed air connections having their open ends on the coupling parts of the two coupler heads, cooperating engaging faces on the interiorof the opposed coupler heads, and the exterior of the coupling parts, which engage before the air connection is completed and which cause the coupler heads to move relatively so-as to align the air connections with vertically and horizontally prior to the completion'of said connection, said aligning devices remaining in contact at the end of the coupling movement and acting after the coupling is made to hold the coupler head against relative lateral movement, whereby the lateral strains upon the ends of said air connections are prevented.

21. A car coupler comprising a hollow coupler head, a pivoted locking part located within said coupler head, said pivoted locking part being in the form of a yoke with separate parts connected at one end but disconnected at the other end, said hollow coupler head provided with two separate openings separated the proper distance for receiving the free ends of the locking part whereby whenthe locking part is inserted in the open end of the' coupler head, the free ends will project through these openings during the initial movement of thelocking device while being moved to its a-ssem- 

